Advantages

Disadvantages

A good quality and well-sized soft toy for a varied age range and good for bedtime and pretend play

My daughter chose this doll on a trip to Disney Store with her Grandma, and it cost £16, which I thought was expensive for a soft toy. However, it is very appealing to little girls who like the film Brave, from which Merida is the heroine, and my daughter was insistent so we brought it home.

The doll is very tactile - the dress is satin, the hair is curly and nice to play with, and the doll itself is fleecy and soft. She has an opulent velvet cloak, and there are also glittery details which add to the style. The doll is suitable for all ages, and as it is so tactile it would appeal to little children, even if they have not seen the movie. My daughter is 6 and it is perfect for her, as she plays with it in a "pretend play" style, but also loves to take it to bed and cuddle, which plastic dolls would not be suited to, so it is multi-functional.

The doll is 50cm tall, and this is a good substantial size without being too bulky. I don't think that she is washable, so we have had to make do with sponge cleaning her face when it got a bit grubby, which has worked very well so far.

In terms of quality, the doll is excellent. It is well sewn together, and the fabrics used are of great quality. We have had it for about six months, and there are no signs of wear and tear despite regular play. The only negative point for me is that in time the Brave film may fizzle out and unless it becomes a "classic" such as Snow White it may be relegated to the bottom of the toy box.... We will just have to wait and see!